Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that promotes fruit ripening and affects various plant functions, with its production increasing as fruits approach maturity. Commercially, ethylene removal filters can significantly extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by absorbing ethylene gas, thereby reducing spoilage. Food waste is a critical issue in the U.S., with billions of dollars lost annually, prompting calls for solutions to halve food waste by 2025.

1. AgraCo Technologies
International LLC
Extend-A-Life Ethylene Removal

2. What is Ethylene?
“Ethylene, unlike the rest of the plant
hormone compounds is a gaseous hormone.
Like abscisic acid, it is the only member of its
class. Of all the known plant growth
substance, ethylene has the simplest
structure. It is produced in all higher plants
and is usually associated with fruit ripening
and the tripple response.”
(Arteca, 1996; Mauseth, 1991; Raven, 1992; Salisbury and Ross, 1992).

3. What does Ethylene do?
H2C=CH2
As they approach maturity, many fruits (e.g., apples, oranges, avocados) release ethylene.
Ethylene then promotes the ripening of the fruit.
Commercial fruit growers can buy equipment to generate ethylene so that their harvest ripens quickly
and uniformly. The presence of ethylene is detected by transmembrane receptors in the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER) of the cells. Binding of ethylene to these receptors unleashes a signaling cascade that
leads to activation of transcription factors and the turning on of gene transcription.
The ill-fated FlavrSavr tomato contains an antisense transgene that interferes with the synthesis of
ethylene and hence slows ripening.
Ethylene also affects many other plant functions such as: abscission of leaves, fruits, and flower petals;
• drooping of leaves;
• sprouting of potato buds;
• seed germination;
• stem elongation in rice (by promoting the breakdown of abscisic acid (ABA) and thus relieving ABA's
inhibition of gibberellic acid);
• flower formation in some species.
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/E/Ethylene.html

4. Ethylene during flowering and fruit ripening
Laser photo acoustic spectroscopy was used to continuously quantify the
ethylene that is produced by strawberry flowers and fruit while they
developed in planta.
Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science

5. Ethylene was first detected as flower buds opened and exhibited diurnal
oscillations with peak production prior to petal abscission. After that C2H4
production fells to a low and relatively continuous level until fruit had entered the
latter stages of being non-expanded and dark-green. Once fruit initiated red
coloration, C2H4 release becomes elevated in a linear fashion (without diurnal
fluctuations).
Notice the increase in
production as fruit
ripens
Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science

6. Ethylene
Cell Wall
Plasma Wall
Being a gas, ethylene can permeate through barriers like; corrugated
cardboard, plastic containers, and natural barriers; cell walls, plasma
walls.
Ethylene
When the ethylene Receptor
makes contact with the Depending on which
ethylene receptors, a stage of the life cycle the
reaction on the genetic fruit is in, determines the
level is started. reaction.
Gene Gene Gene
Ripening PR Proteins Senescence

7. Post-harvest losses of crops are estimated to be between 25 and 40% worldwide. Today,
controlled atmosphere (CA) storage facilities are quite common, i.e. storage at lowered
temperatures, low oxygen concentrations and elevated CO2 levels. Metabolic processes
in CA-stored products, like fruits and vegetables, are slowed down and thus ripening and
aging are delayed.
Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science
The amount of food wasted in the US is staggering. The US generates more than 34
million tons of food waste each year. Paper is the only material category where we
generate more waste, but we also recycle more. Food waste is more than 14 percent of
the total municipal solid waste stream. Less than three percent of the 34 million tons of
food waste generated in 2009 was recovered and recycled. The rest —33 million tons—
was thrown away. Food waste now represents the single largest component of MSW
reaching landfills and incinerators.
Source: US Department of Environmental Protection 2009 report

8. Food products make up 63 percent of a supermarket’s
disposed waste stream, according to a California Integrated
Waste Management Board industry study. That’s
approximately 3,000 lbs. thrown away per employee every
year.
It is difficult to gauge quite how much waste—known as “shrink” in the industry's
jargon—there is. Oliver Wyman, a consulting firm, puts the figure at 8-10% of total
“perishable” goods in America. The Food Marketing Institute, an industry body, says
such sales totaled $196 billion in 2006. That means food worth nearly $20 billion was
dumped by retailers. In a report published on May 14th, the United Nations estimated
that retailers and consumers in America throw away food worth $48 billion each year,
and called upon governments everywhere to halve food wastage by 2025.
The Economist – May 2008

9. Navy Recommendation for Extend-a-Life Filters
IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND LIFE OF YOUR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Filters – Something as simple as placing an Extend –a-Life ethylene removal filter
your cold room can dramatically increase the quality and life of your fresh fruits
and vegetables. There is no special instillation required. Just hang the filters in your
cold room/ refrigerated shipping containers where air circulated through them. The
filters are small (18”W x 5 ¾” long x 11/16” thick). As air circulates through the
Extend-a-Life ethylene removal filters, they will absorb the ethylene gas given off
by your fruits and vegetables.
Ethylene absorption filters can be hung virtually anywhere in your refrigeration /
cold storage system. The number of filters is based on square feet of the
refrigerator. One Filter is required for every 100 square feet. The useful life of the
filters is similar to the blankets at 45-90 days. The Extend-a-Life ethylene filters are
made of metal mesh and can be disposed of at sea.

10. Navy Recommendation for Extend-a-Life Filters (continued)
Background:
The Navy is faced with the challenge of trying to extend the shelf life of FF&V on
board ship in order to support the nutritional needs of its sailors. Spoilage of FF&V
is a common problem caused by the release of ethylene gas, which is a natural by-
product of the ripening process. Ethylene gas is a “growth regulator” that leads to
degradation and reduced shelf life of FF&V as it is recycled through refrigerated
shipboard storage spaces.
Tests have shown that installing ethylene gas absorption devices (ethylene blankets
or filters) in the walk-in refrigerators can significantly the shelf life of FF&V. When
placed in the cold storage rooms or refrigerated shipping containers, the devices
reduce spoilage and aging by absorbing the ethylene gas.

11. Highlights
 Ethylene is a natural occurring gaseous hormone given off by fruits,
vegetables, and fresh cut flowers
 Climate control plays a large part in the delay of the ripening process
 The ripening process can not be stopped, but can be slowed
 Grocers, pickers, packers, transporters, and institutions (i.e. the US Navy)
waste an extraordinarily large amount of produce each year.
 Filtering the ethylene out of the air prolongs the life of fruits, vegetables,
and fresh cut flowers

12. What does this mean to you?
Keeping fruits, vegetables and fresh cut flowers fresher longer means:
 A completive edge with better looking and better tasting product
 Increased customer satisfaction
 Increase in customer loyalty
 Decreased shrink due to spoilage
 Longer marketability of produce
 Increase in profitability
 Decreased ordering
 Reduced waste

13. AgraCo Technologies International
LLC
Extend-A-Life Ethylene Removal
220 South Second Street
Dillsburg, PA 17019
717-502-350
Fax 717-502-0353
www.agraco.com